TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister of National Development Planning (PPN)/National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Bambang Brodjonegoro asserted that poverty alleviation would remain as the government’s priority. According to him, major resources are required to push down the poorness rate, moreover if it is already below 10 percent.

“We have to carry out more efforts to reduce impoverishment as the rate is already low. So we have to directly deal with people belonging to the list of extreme poverty, including those living in the isolated regions such as islands and outskirt area,” said Bambang in his office, Jakarta, Thursday, April 25.

Earlier, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) noted the impoverishment rate in Indonesia tends to decline. In March 2018, the rate recorded at 9.82 percent, but it dropped to 9.66 percent in September 2018.

Bambang said that his side prepared several strategies to further lower the rate. The government, he added, focused on providing direct social assistance to 80 percent of poor households in the list of extreme poorness.

The aids include Family Hope Program, non-cash food assistance program (BPNT) or later named affordable staple food card, Indonesian health card, and smart Indonesian card.

The minister went on to say that jobs and development of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) were necessary for the other 20 percent of those poor households belonging in the lowest economic level.

In addition, Bambang further said the government set village funds program which was effective in improving the basic service in the region and decreasing the poverty rate in suburb areas.

HENDARTYO HANGGI